Abdominal exerciser.



W. C. SCHULZE.

ABDOMINAL EXERGISER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1010.

1,064,093. Patented June 10,1913.

2 BHEBTS-BHEBT l.

W. C. SGHULZE.

ABDOMINAL EXERGISER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1910.

1,064,093, Patented June 10, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co WASHINGTON, n. cy

WILLIAM G. SCHULZE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ABDOMINAL EXERCISER.

i ,ooapoa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatentedJune1t), 1 913.

Application filed July 25, 1910. Serial No. 573,664.

To all whom it may conccrn to it known that I, \a'rnmanr Soirumn, acitizen of the United States of ..\m(.\rica, and a resident of Chicago,county ot (look, State of lllinois, have invented certain new anduse't'ul Improvements in Abdominal .l lxercisers of which the followingis a speeifieation.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved abdominalexerciser to manipulate, massage, knead, and pereuss the abdomen for thepurpose of inducing muscular activity and peristaltic action in theintestines; to provide improved means for actuating the working parts insuch a manner as to be the exciting cause of the movement as normallycarried on in the human body; to provide improved means for increasingthe action on the abdomen at certain predetermined positions; and toprovide an improved. simple, and substantial construction capable ot.withstanding all stresses of ordinary usage.

A specific structure embodying this invention is illustrated in tlaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view ot' the abdoi'ninal exerciser, partly inelevation, on the plane of the drive shaft. Fig. 2 is a detail of theslidable raised track which may be used to increase the action at thehinged traveling ball. Figs. 3 and 4: show in detail the adjustablehangers for supporting the casing. Fig. 5 is a sketch showing theapparatus as applied to the patient. Fig. (3 is a sectional view, partlybroken away, showing the rotating l'nechanism and the adjustable ballaccelerators in position.

In the construction shown, the flexible diaphragm 1 is the top member ofa casing 2 which forms a housing for a rotatable spider 3. ()n thebottom member of the casing 2 is secured av base plate -'l and a fixedshat't 5, on which is mounted the rotatable spider The driving mechanismconsists of a driven bevel gear (3 secured to the spider 3, which mesheswith the driving bevel gear 7, which is in turn pinned to the driveshaft 8. The drive shaft 8 is supported on a bearing 9 fastened to thebase plate 4, and the casing 2 forms an outer bearing where the driveshaft passes through the casing at 10. The outer end of the drive shaft8 has a coupling 11 which is threaded on the shaft; and is adapted torotatable spider t has arms 13, 14-, 15, and 16, ot' (litter-cutlengths, each carrying a shaft; 17 mounted in a plane parallel to thediaphragm l. On each ot the tour shafts is rotatably mounted the ball18, which keeps the diaphragm I. under stress at the point; ol contactand establishes stress lines on the flexible medium or diaphragmconnecting the points ol contact ot, the various balls. lv'hcn thespider t is actuated by turning the crank shart't 1). there is producedon the diaphragm 'l a progressive wave motion which is capable ot'transmission to the human abdomen. 'lhc Form of the wave front of themotion is substantially a spiral with tour centers starting near thecenter and increasing in velocity toward the outside.

For convenience in application, the device is sometimes hung on the backof an ordinary chair, as shown innltig. 5, and a pair of hangers.comprising a pair of adjnstable hooks It), it), pass through thefittings 2t 20 which are t'astencd to the easing 2, and thmnbscrews 2t,21 serve to lock the hanger hooks It), '15) in place. There are twopositions on the abdomen where percussion action is especially desired.These two points are both approximattal by the travel ot the ball 18 onthe longest arm 16 ot' the rotating spider t3, and provision is madet'or increased stress on the diaphragm at and near these points byproviding a long axis 17 tor the ball .18 on the arm 1t). Two lugs 22,22, serve as guides to prevent side motion oi the axis. and two lugs 23,Bengage a pivot Q-lwhich passes through the long axis '17. To ilk-teasethe stress on the diaplniagm at the desired points, two ad justablcwedge-shaped blocks 25 and 26 are slidably lastcned to the base of thecasing 9. projecting arm 27 is connected to the inclined block 27 andprojects through the casing in such a manner as to permit the movementof the inclined track into or out of the path ol the outer ball 18. In asimilar manner, the projecting arm 28 controls the position of theinclined track 26. 'hcn the track engages the ball, it is dellcctcdtoward the diaphragm and produces an increased stress or percussion onthe diaphragm at the point; immediately above the wedgoshaped block.

in o wration, the diaphragm 1. of the device is placed so as to press ontln abdomen,

receive a threaded extension shaft 12. The the operating crank handle'12 being on the right-hand side of the patient. The operating crankhandle is arranged to turn fast when turned right-handed, and to turnloose and be separable when turned left-handed. hen the handle 12 isturned right-handed, the bevel gears 6 and 7 will turn the rotatingspider 3 and the rotatable balls 18 in a left-handed direction. Thehalls pressing against the diaphragm will produce points and lines ofstress on the surface of the diaphragm, with an action which will becomparatively slow at the center and increasing to the outer edge. henit is desired to accelerate the percussion at either the sigmoid flexureor at the czecal valve or both, then the inclined track or tracks areplaced in position so as to elevate the ball 18 which is mounted on thespider arm 16. If increased action is desired over the sigmoid flexure,the projecting arm 27 is pushed into the casing, forcing the inclinedtrack 25 in such a position that it will engage the outer ball 18. Ifincreased action is desired over the caecal valve, the inclined block 26is placed in the path of the outer ball 18 by pushing the projecting arm28 to the position as shown in Fig. 6.

It is especially desirable, in the treatment of intestinal inactivity,to induce muscular and peristaltic action in the intestines in thedirection and with the magnitude of the action as it is normally carriedon in the body.

In this invention, a comparatively gentle,

clockwise, kneading action is imparted to the center of the abdomen,with a stronger action across the upper part of the abdomen from rightto left, and from the upper left hand side of the abdomen toward the sigmoid flexure, and from the sigmoid fiexure toward the caecal valve.Properly located accelerators 25 and 26 are provided to produce thestrongest percussion action over the sigmoid flexure, and over thecaecal valve. The operating crank handle 12 is made non-reversible, sothat the exerciser always works in the right direction.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shownand described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim i 1. In an abdominal exerciser, a mechanism comprising aplurality of rotatably mounted balls and unsupported therebetween, adiaphragm stretched over said balls, said diaphragm being adapted totransmit to the abdomen an irregular wave motion actuated by said balls,and non-reversible means operative to actuate said mechanism.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, means forsuspending said casing, a diaphragm member for said casing, a mechanismhoused in said casing and rotating on an axis perpendicular to saiddiaphragm, pressing parts of said mecha nism rotatably mounted on axessubstantially parallel to said diaphragm, means connected to said deviceand operative to actu'- ate said mechanism, and manually con trolledmeans for relatively increasing the action of one or more of thepressing parts at predetermined points.

3. In an abdominal exerciser, a mechanism comprising a plurality ofsurfaces movable in concentric paths, a flexible medium stretched oversaid surfaces in amanner to cause stress lines therein between thepoints of contact with said surfaces, and means for moving said surfacesto cause a progressive movement of saidstress lines.

4-. In an abdominal exerciser, a mechanism comprising a plurality ofsurfaces movable in concentric paths, a flexible medium stretched oversaid surfaces in a man ner to cause stress lines therein between thepoints of contact with said surfaces, means for moving said surfaces tocause a progres sive movement of said stress lines, and means forincreasing the stress upon said medium at certain desired points.

-' 5. In an abdominal exerciser, a mechanism comprising a plurality ofbodies having rounded surfaces movable in concentric paths, means foractuating said bodies, and means for causing at will one or more ofsaid. bodies to depart from the normal plane of rotation atpredetermined points.

Signed at Chicago this 18th day of July WILLIAh I C. SCHULZE.WVitnesses:

PHILIP B. VVOODSMITH, EDWIN Prmnrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner cf Patents, Washington, D. C.

